Deathsentences of the Polished and Structurally Weak

Deathsentences of the Polished and Structurally Weak is an album and booklet by Negativland. The band describes the project as "a 6 by 12 inch 64-page full-color book which comes with a 45-minute CD soundtrack."

Deathsentences of the Polished and Structurally Weak
Soundtrack album by Negativland
Released	October 1, 2002
Recorded	2002
Genre	Experimental
Length	45:00
Label	Seeland
Producer	Negativland
Negativland chronology
These Guys Are from England and Who Gives a Shit (2001) Deathsentences of the Polished and Structurally Weak (2002) No Business (2005)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	59/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Pitchfork	4.3/10

CD and Track listing

"The CD is a meticulously-layered, ever-shifting electro-acoustic soundscape created to accompany the book. No bass lines, no melody, no dialogue, no singing, no beat - the sound of Negativland's recording studio being destroyed in a car crash."

All tracks by Negativland:

1. "Only You Can Rock Me" – 2:37
2. "Pack It Up" – 3:05
3. "Arbory Hill" – 3:26
4. "Ain't No Baby" – 5:29
5. "Lookin' Out For #1" – 2:51
6. "Hot & Ready" – 1:39
7. "Cherry" – 5:40
8. "Don't Fool Me" – 5:48
9. "#1 Rep" – 2:59
10. "One More For The Rodeo" – 4:44
11. "Born To Loose" – 2:08
12. "When They Ring The Golden Bells" – 4:10

Booklet

The accompanying booklet is a 6 by 12 inch 64-page full-color book packaged inside of a large die-cut automotive courtesy envelope. The band's website describes the book as "a poignant, voyeuristic, disturbing, and occasionally funny glimpse into lives which may be very different from your own...or eerily similar."

Compiled by band member Richard Lyons, the book comprises photos of smashed-up cars in a junkyard; next to each crumpled car is reprinted the text of a note or letter or list found in the car.

In 1997, long before the book was released, Richard Lyons described the project and read excerpts from selections of the found text for an episode of the Public Radio program This American Life.

Personnel

• Mark Hosler - tapes, electronics, rhythms, Booper, clarinet, organ, viola, loops, guitar, etc.
• Richard Lyons - tapes, electronics, rhythms, Booper, clarinet, organ, viola, loops, guitar, etc.
• David Wills - synthesizer, voice, tape
• Peter Dayton - guitars, viola
• W. M. Kennedy - guitar
• Jonathan Land - processed guitars, electronics

External links

• This American Life - Episode 70: Other People's Mail (1997) - includes segment of Richard Lyons describing the booklet project, with excerpts from the text.